European Union & Singapore discuss strengthening the security of critical maritime and underwater infrastructure
Essential for global communications, energy distribution and economic security, resilience of critical maritime and underwater infrastructure is a high priority for both Singapore and the EU.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Singapore and the EU Delegation to Singapore with the support of the EU project ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation in and with Asia and the Indo-Pacific).
The activity brought together government officials and military personnel involved in maritime security from Singapore, the EU and its Member States, and a series of partner countries including Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. Experts exchanged experiences and best practices, and explored responses to threats at the institutional, legal and technological levels.
H.E. Artis Bērtulis, EU Ambassador to Singapore, said: “Recent events in European as well as in Asian waters have highlighted the increasing vulnerability of this infrastructure, in particular sea cables and pipelines. The EU is ready to work with regional and international partners to enhance our collective maritime security.”
Brigadier-General Amos Yeo, Group Chief, Policy and Strategy, MINDEF Singapore, delivered the opening remarks, and highlighted that: “Given its interconnected nature, ensuring the security of underwater infrastructure is not something that any country can do alone. That is why, at the Shangri-La Dialogue earlier this year, Singapore together with partner nations launched the Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges, or GUIDE for short. GUIDE is a cross-regional effort to identify shared principles and areas for collaboration among like-minded defence establishments.”
“I see today’s seminar as an excellent example of ongoing efforts to bring together different countries and regions to share perspectives and expertise and identify how we can come together to collectively strengthen underwater infrastructure security," he added.
In a keynote address, Dr Alison Weston, Senior Coordinator for Maritime Security at the European External Action Service (EEAS) stressed that: “The security of maritime and underwater infrastructure is a shared responsibility. As threats grow more complex, with new technologies introducing new vulnerabilities, no nation can act alone. The EU and Singapore are deepening their partnership with allies to safeguard these critical assets through cooperation.”
During the November 2025 EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, EU High Representative & Vice President Kaja Kallas convened a ministerial meeting dedicated to the protection of CMUI, with the EU continuing to foster cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners through projects such as ESIWA+, EU CRIMARIO, and Global Ports Safety.
About the EU ESIWA+ project:
ESIWA+ (Enhancing the EU’s Security Cooperation In and With Asia and the Indo-Pacific) has since 2020 worked across countries in the Indo-Pacific region to enhance cooperation in four thematic areas: counterterrorism and preventing violent extremism, crisis management/hybrid threats, cyber security, and maritime security. Co-funded by the European Commission’s Service for Foreign Policy Instruments, Germany, and France, the project is co-implemented by GIZ International Services, and by Expertise France.
For more information, contact:
Rahul Venkit
Communications & Visibility Expert, EU ESIWA+ project, rahul.venkit@expertisefrance.fr
Press Release EU-Singapore CMUI Seminar
EU Singapore 2026
EU Singapore 2026